Cough “Sizzurp” Dangerous Drug For Athletes, Children

Kids are finding new and more creative ways to get high these days. There has been a growing trend of drug abuse using concoctions made from everyday items found in refrigerators and household medicine cabinets.

Cough syrup is the primary ingredient and is an increasingly common substance of abuse among younger populations – either dextromethorphan, found in over-the-counter cough medicine or codeine, which is available by prescription only.

In a 2006 survey, 3.6 percent of 8th graders admitted to abusing cough medicine. High schoolers had even higher percentages – 5.3 percent among 10th graders and 5.5 percent of 12th graders.

As with many drug abusers, these children are only obsessed with the highs and are unaware of the dangers of abusing something as seemingly common as cough syrup.